Tip Off: 4:00 PM
TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KTCT 1050
Blog Buddy: Raptors HQ
The Warriors need to learn how to win on the road. The Warriors need to win on the road. On a neutral floor or at home, there's no way the Warriors lose to the Pistons. They nearly did win the game. Lead in the 4th, Curry 3 would have tied it and sent it to OT. But nope, close doesn't count. No matter how good the Warriors start has been, they need to win these games against the weaker Eastern Conference teams because the schedule can only get harder.
Tonight is another one of those games that they should win. Even though it's their first back to back, the team should be rested since it is the start of the season. The Raptors may be worse than the Pistons but it's tough to tell because they started the season with 4 of the first 6 games on the road. If the Warriors started out on the road, they might be 1-5 as well.
If the Warriors can beat the Raptors, it'll break the seal for winning a game on the road. Get it done.
Now for a quiz...Off the top of your head, quickly name as many Raptors players as you can and name their coach...
How many players did you name? I came up with:
Andrea Bargnani
Jose Calderon
Hedo Turkoglu
Vince Carter (no, not really)
Yup, I named 2 Raptors players. Here's the answer.
Did you correctly name their coach? I have no clue. Here's the answer. Yea, you didn't get that one either.
As far as their players, Andrea Bargnani is actually doing something. He's scoring more points per game helped by a 47% 3 point shooting percentage (his TS% is down), but he still rebounds like a softie. Check out these rebounding stats from their "big" man - 4.8 rebounds per game in 34.5 minutes or 5rpg per 36. I think Biedrins could do that with one arm tied behind his back and his legs tied together. He's making $8.5 million this year. Whoops, glad we don't have that contract, 5 years, $50 million last summer.
Look for Reggie Evans to inhale rebounds, 13rpg in 29 minutes. Let him shoot too, 26%. He'll be competing with Beans and Lee for the boards.
Clearly, I don't pay enough attention to the Raptors. Why should I? And for this game, I will only pay attention to them as long as I need to. And then they'll fade from memory until the next time the Warriors play them.
Predictions
- Warriors win by 9
- Monta Ellis kills'em with 32 points
- Reggie Evans vs Andris Biedrins vs David Lee for most rebounds - Lee wins with 14
- Amir Johnson has a big game in his 20 minutes.
Poll
Off the top of your head, quickly name as many Toronto Raptors players as you can. No cheating!
This poll is closed
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19%
0: There's still a team in Toronto?
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35%
1 to 2: Does Vince Carter count?
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10%
3 to 4: I am a Raptor fan, so I know a few
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34%
5+: It's because I play fantasy hoops